The "Ugly Stage"

"Phoenix" 9 x12 Pastel on Board

One thing all artist struggle through is the dreaded "Ugly Stage". It is the stage when you feel like your drawing, or painting, is worthless and not worth the time and effort to finish it. This is how I felt most of the time with this painting. The key is to grit your teeth, and keep working forward. For an example, here is the Ugly Stage of this painting:

When I got to this stage of my painting I was so frustrated. The horse is a rose-grey color and I was having a terrible time finding the perfect mixture of colors. Here it's too blue, and the red wouldn't blend right. I almost gave up several times, but I'm very glad I didn't. The end result was worth the frustration. I had to learn to step away first, then to think, and finally to use my imaginaton to visulize my final painting. Once I was able to see past the Ugly Stage, it made everything else fall into place.

Trot Through the Forest

Trot Through the Forest 4x6 acrylic on canvas paper

This little piece was very fun to do, as well as a little challenging. Artist tend to get stuck in a rut of constantly drawing the same pose , and this was my attempt at trying to get away from that rut. I always tend to draw horses facing left (oops) and standing with a profile head. Action shots are hard, and different angles are annoying. So, I realize the horse is still facing the habit way, but it's not standing still!

In order to improve at anything really, one must constantly challenge their abilities. Getting stuck in a rut is safe, but frustrating. You know what you can do well, and do it over and over and over again. And while you can do that one thing very well, let's face it- one trick ponies are boring. This painting took me awhile to sketch out because of the difficult angle the horse is in, but over all I am extremely pleased with how it came out. From now on I'm going to be trying for more difficult subject matters so I can constantly be on the upraise of my artistic abilities :)

Massive Chaos

"Silent Comfort"

Melody had another relapse last week with her injury and ended up going back in for surgery. It's now been a 7 month nightmare in trying to keep my horse alive. Every time I see the vets they tell me that my horse should be dead. I just keep trekking, and treating her because I know if I slack off even slightly she could get infected and die.

Back when she first injured herself I put my entire life on hold while I stressed out and obsessed over keeping my beloved mare alive. I felt empty and alone, but I figured this was all because of what was happening right in front of me. My horse was seriously hurt, and that's all there was to it. In reality it wasn't. It wasn't the stress of the horse's injury that was making me feel empty- it was the lack of creative energy that was doing it.

It's only been the past 3 months that I've realized I HAVE to paint, I HAVE to write, I HAVE to use my creativity or there's really no point in being here. After I complete a painting or write a short story I feel so warm, so full of life. It doesn't matter what kind of day I've had, if I come home and do something creative everything is instantly better. Art is a part of life, and I have to do it. Since I embraced my creative side again I'm not as stressed out. The threat of dire things still looms heavier over my head, but I can deal with it now. I can take it and channel it into something- a painting, a short story.

Poor Melody still has a long way to go. She came home Friday after her surgery and it confined to strict stall rest. She's such a brave little mare. Everyday when she sees me she nickers happily and rests her head on my chest. I keep praying everything will be alright, and any doubt or troubles get washed away in layers of paint on canvas.

Belle ACEO

"Belle" 2.5 x3.5 Colored Pencil on Paper

This beautiful mare is owned by my Barn Manager, and I couldn't help but try my hand at painting her! She's a Champion Arabian Halter horse, and full of attitude! Around the stables we call her "Barbie" because of how she struts around! It's always amusing the personalities these creatures have, and that's most of the reason why I'm so drawn to horses. Their beauty and grace is just the perfect subject for a painting!

I also like completing these smaller works of art. They come in handy if there isn't a lot of time to complete a larger work, and they help keep things challenging. It's very hard to come up with a pleasing composition with such a tiny work space! Colors and contrasts become even more important than the subject matter as one trys to make the painting successful. With the time factor, I can usually have one of these completed in less than an hour. And in a busy work day between school, writing, music, and exercises- like I said, larger works just keep getting pushed back. This is especially true with school since I'm an art major, I have so many paintings due for different professors there just isn't time for personal work sometimes!

Back Into the Groove

"Sprinkled Petals" 3x5 Colored Pencil on Paper

Melody is still not 100% better yet, but she's getting there! Thank you for all the encouragement and prayers for my lovely horse. I am slowly getting back into the groove of things as my life starts to slow down again and thoughts that my beloved horse might die start to fade from my mind. School has once again started, and I'm very excited that I will be graduating in December!

I am taking an oil painting class this semester, and I'm not sure if the Professor and I are going to get along. I am pretty comparably with myself as an artist. I know my style isn't set, for these things are always changing, but the Professor doesn't like my work so far. She doesn't like my palette, or how I start my paintings. To say the least, this should be interesting. One thing we seem to be debating at the moment is the usage of black in a painting. I use it. She says I should throw it out.

The huge debate about the color black came about with the Impressionists, before then black was a very acceptable color to use in paintings. Used sparingly, I think black can greatly enhance a painting and the shadows within it. Yes, too much black and muddy and dull a painting I understand that, but there is also only so far a dark Prussian blue can shape a shadow.

The colored pencil work I posted has no black added to the shadows. Yes it does have depth and volume to it, it still feels a little flat in some areas. The shadows seem unrealistic to me. It was really only recently that I began to use black again in my work, but again, I use it only to help with my shadows.

Compliments

Well, the semester with Feng is over, and I must say I am sad to have it end. I have learned so much from his watercolor class! Loosing up my style was a biggie for me, and I really hope I can continue and apply this to my other mediums as well.

I have lots of art I need to photograph and post up on here. Now that my classes are over this should happen soon!

Till then- Happy Creating!!

Improving

Simple Elegance II 12x 16 watercolor

I feel like every time I pick up my paint brush to do one of these watercolors it just keeps getting better and better! It's always exciting to know you are learning sometime and getting a nice dose of inspiration along the way!

I actually have several new paintings to show too! I've been a little slow in actually up loading the digital photos from my camera, but with exams and art reviews right around the corner- I might be a little slow to get them up. Although, with only 3 weeks left of the semester I might delay this until after finials!

As my semester end with Feng draws near I've been trying to lap up everything he says about techniques and how to pull in inspirations. After the class was over today he pulled me aside to congratulate me on my hard work and improving skills. This is very uplifting since watercolor has always been such a struggle for me! I knew this class was going to be hard from day one, but I stuck with it and I'm working very hard. All my efforts are paying off ten fold! So, here's today lesson: No matter how hard things are keep with it. Eventually the fruits of your labors will be apparent and they will be the sweetest ever!

Watercolor Continued

"Floating" 12 x16 watercolor

One of the biggest things I am learning in my watercolor class right now is to loosen up! And to stop trying to control the watercolor. By just letting the medium 'do its own thing' I am getting some beautiful washes. This was just a quick painting to put to use everything Feng and his other students have suggested to me, and really there is already a big difference between this one and the last.

Whenever I get really flustered with my art I have to do something fun. Something whimsical and off key for me. Thus a series of Wind Horses is slowly being born, and they are all wildly stylized like the horse in today's post. It is important for no matter what your line of work is to take a mental break and do something fun with it. As much as I love to draw and paint, the wind horses are how I keep things fresh and fun. I use them as an excuse to just explore and experiment with the medium.

The next painting I am working on is continuing on with the Dressage theme from the last painting- and boy do I think I bit off more than I can chew! The horse is a beautiful midnight black Friesian and he's proving very difficult to paint at the moment! I'm also a bit nervous with this as well because Feng wants me to paint in front of him this week. I might have to do some more of these wind horses to keep me sane!!

Small Works/ Personal Style

"Dream Ride" 3.5 x 2.5 colored pencil

Over the past few years I have found myself greatly enjoying doing the smaller works of art. Why is this? Mainly because these smaller pieces tend to be quick 'practice' works. I rarely spend more than an hour doing one of these ACEOs, which always leads to the possibility of doing one a day with my busy schedule. I also greatly enjoy doing these in colored pencil! As much as I love the medium, it tends to be a bit of a burden to do anything larger than 11 x 14 with them, and they general take a long time to complete. With these smaller works, it doesn't matter the burdens of the medium because there is less space to cover! Not that I want to discourage anyone from colored pencil! It is a wonderful medium. I think as my personal style grows and develops I just see the need to move away from them.

Developing my style has been an interesting journey, and it is one I feel that is only beginning. When I first started seriously looking into art I wanted to go into a more realistic approach to it. However, through the years my painting have started taking on a more impressionistic/painterly look to them. My palette has grown to non-traditional colors, and everything has started to get looser. Colored pencils will always be a 'tight' medium, just by their nature. They are better suited for the realistic style, and not the one I am currently moving into. It's just amazing how much growth and change my art has undergone in only a few short years, but it is all for the better. I really hope by the end of this year I will finally be comfortable with the new style of mine that is budding. The more I paint, the better I feel about it!

One Year With Melody

Rhapsody's Melody 11 x 14 Graphite

Today's art is a portrait of my beloved Melody who came into my life a year ago today. Even though I did not take ownership until well into the summer, today still marks a landmark in my books. After I lost Hunter, my beloved quarter horse, I never really planned on getting another horse anytime soon. My friend asked me at this time last year if I wanted to go with her and pick up two new horses she was getting, and I of course said yes! Seeing Melody was love at first sight for both of us, and I knew it was time to move on and open my heart to another horse. By the time summer rolled around I ended up trading a mini gelding I had for Melody, and it has been wonderful ever since.

It has been years since I actually sat down and did a graphite drawing. Although, I have always found graphite fun and relaxing to work in. It also helps to reiterate the fact that I need to slow down and create a finished well proportioned drawing before moving on. This is a continuous struggle for me! Rushing through things NEVER produces quality work! And though I am getting better at this, it still needs work. Not working in my fun palette of colors seemed a bit odd as well. More than likely I will be doing another portrait of Melody in color in the near future!

Sketch Book Fun

Icelandic Pony Study in sketch book, Colored pencils.

I've been sick the past week, so I apologize for the lack of up-dates! There are several year long art challenges I have joined for 2010! And I am hoping this will help me further improve my drawing skills. Most of the challenges are bi-weekly, and I will certainly be posting the results of each project on here.

This sketch was a challenge from 2009 that was going to be studying a breed a week before it fizzled out mid July. I am really hoping the 2010 art challenges I joined will go strong through out the entire year! I only have 24 pages left in my sketch book! I'll have to go buy a new one to fit everything in it!

Happy Painting!

"Blue Eyes"

"Blue Eyes" 9 x 12 Colored Pencil on Pastel Board

This painting started to take on a mind of its own the more I worked on it. Originally I had a beautiful silver dapple pinto in mind as I started to color the horse; however, the more I colored it the blacker the horse became! I eventually gave up trying to save the light grey idea and just went with it. When the painting was finally finished I just had to laugh because it came out looking like my mare Melody. I think its telling me to do a portrait of my girl rather than other people's babies! :)

On another note, looks like I'm taking a very spontaneous trip to Washington DC to visit my sister and I will be back on Monday. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

A New Year

The start of a New Year always excites me as the countless possibilities of what it could bring fills my head. First thing I did this morning was construct my 10 New Years Goals I want to accomplish for the year. That way I feel as if I have direction in the New Year rather than flailing around blindly and letting it take me.

The start of the New Year also means the start of new art projects! One of my main goals for the year is to do a daily painting. Now, this might get complicated as school starts again in full swing- but I think it's doable!

For the first painting of the New Year I did a lovely portrait of a thoroughbred mare named Lucy. This horse has such an adorable face I couldn't resist trying my hand at painting her. So, here is the cutie done in acrylic on 9 x 12 canvas paper. I've titled it "The Rail Walker".